Essential Things Everyone Should Know Before Visiting Turkey

Wherever you decide to visit in Turkey, you’re certainly never going to get bored. A country with immense religious, social, and political history, it isn’t surprising that their cities are so popular with tourists. And despite recent warnings, many tourists still visit to walk the streets, smell the delicious spices, and experience its bewitching, beautiful culture for themselves. Here are a few things to bear in mind before you get there.

The food will make you never want to leave

Traditional Turkish cuisine is like nothing we get at home. It’s rich, meaty, spicy, and utterly delicious. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll never want to leave.

Save loose change for the bathroom

Most public bathrooms, especially in tourist areas, will charge around 1 lira for you to enter. If you haven’t got the change, you can’t get in. Keep loose change separate and try to avoid the temptation to spend it.

Women need to dress modestly

Turkey is a Muslim country, so modest dress is expected. Many people, both Muslims and not, travel from all over the world, and everyone is expected to adhere to the same set of standards. Travel agencies who specialise in travel in Islamic countries, such as Muslim Break, can offer advice on this at the point of booking. The general rule is to keep leg, shoulders, and chests covered. A scarf for covering the head when entering mosques is also advised.

Many nationalities require a visa

When visiting Turkey, it is a legal requirement for entry to the country to have a visa, which can take up to two weeks to obtain before you travel. Be sure to check with your country’s embassy to be sure. You’ll also require at least six months on your passport before it runs out, otherwise, you may be refused entry to the country.

The people will be your favourite bit

The Turkish people will do everything to make you feel welcome. If you learn a bit of Turkish and find yourself chatting at the cafe, you might even find yourself invited round to the local’s family home for some tea and traditional dinner. If you’re traveling with kids, be aware that the locals will fall in love with them. They love children, and will coo around them with treats and snacks quite happily.

It gets HOT

In the day, the temperature soars, but once the sun sets it can drop right down to near freezing. Clothes which are easily layerable are the best way to ensure you’re comfortable. A hat, sunglasses, and bottled water are also essential – nobody wants to get lumped with heatwave on their holiday, after all.

The shopping is outstanding

Finally, if you’re a fan of markets, you’re going to fall in love. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the oldest and largest in the world, and you can easily spend two or three days getting lost in its winding streets. With fantastic food vendors, beautiful cloths and leather goods, ceramics, jewellery, and everything else the heart could possibly desire, if you’re a shopaholic, you’re going to fall in love.